Anna Soubry, the outspoken public health minister, said she is determined to press ahead with a ban on branded cigarette packaging after saying that the glamorous "power of the packet" lured her to become a smoker as a teenager.

The minister told MPs in a Westminster Hall debate: "I took up smoking before the age of 18. I accept that I sound very weak when I say – this is one of those moments where one almost wants to confess – that the power of the packet had an effect on this 17-year-old from Worksop.

"I have never forgotten the first time that I bought a packet of cigarettes. I deliberately chose a packet of St Moritz because they were green, gorgeous and a symbol of glamour. Do [MPs] remember the madness of those advertisements that talked of the cool fresh mountain air of menthol cigarettes?

"I distinctly remember the power of that package. It was the opening of the cellophane and the gold and the silver that was so powerfully important to many people who, as youngsters, took up smoking."

Soubry compared nicotine to heroin as she spoke of how she found it difficult to give up smoking because nicotine is a "dreadful substance" that creates a "perverse psychology of smoking".

She said: "We know that 8 million people in this country continue to smoke and that the overwhelming majority of them want to stop. It is an admission of some weakness within us, which I think is the power of nicotine. It is often said that nicotine is more addictive even than heroin.

"Although I have never directly experienced heroin, when I was a criminal barrister I had enough clients to know how powerful heroin and cocaine are. Goodness me, even they would say that nicotine is a dreadful substance in its addiction. That accounts for why so many smokers, like me, found it so difficult to give up."

Soubry said she supported the government decision to abandon moves towards standardised packaging as it waits to see the results from Australia. David Cameron faced criticism after shelving the plans.

But the minister said she supported standardised packaging, as she studiously avoided calling it plain packaging. "Far from being a counterfeiter's charter and dream, standardised packaging is a counterfeiter's nightmare ... They are far from plain. On the contrary, they have colour in them, but they have the standardisation, which takes away this incredibly powerful marketing tool and the attraction for young people."

She added: "My own views are clear, but it is right to wait to see the evidence. I assure members that the wise words from so many different parties today will be taken back to the government and will be listened to. It is to be hoped that in due time, standardised packaging will be introduced."